CHICAGO ? Toni Shelton knows the challenges of being homeless
with children, and now that she has found success in her life
she is opening her three homes to refugees from Hurricane
Katrina. ?I?ve been in a homeless situation myself with my
children, so every time I see what is happening to so many
people it makes me cry,? said Shelton. ?I just kept asking God
what can I do to help, and the answer came back that I should
open my homes that I?ve been blessed with.? Shelton, a fashion
model and modeling consultant, is the author of a book on how to
become a model called ?Rising Star.? She has two homes in
Chicago and one in Los Angeles. She is willing to allow complete
strangers to move in with her and her children, and to let
people she does not know move into her other two homes as well.
?I don?t want money. I just want to help. These people have lost
everything and need a way to get their lives back together. I
have houses that have plenty of empty rooms,? said Shelton. She
is getting help from Chicago?s Channel 2 News. They showed her
homes on television and made her offer of help known to the Red
Cross and other agencies that are helping people. Now national
news organizations have joined in the effort to find people to
fill those empty rooms. Airlines are providing free
transportation to people left homeless by Katrina, as long as
they have a verified place to go. Shelton?s offer will make that
possible for about 20 people. ?I?d rather do this than donate
money. I want to do the most good I can, and God has blessed me
so now I can bless others,? said Shelton. Shelton did what she
had to do as a single mother of four children, including work on
the back of a garbage truck for a time. Her goal of success as a
model has always been her driving force and kept her going
through thick and thin. She has turned her life around, going
from homeless to philanthropist. Shelton?s many efforts to give
back to her community won her the ?2001 Women Who Make A
Difference Award? presented by the Make a Difference Youth
Foundation. She never gives up, and she never allows the
challenges of life to stop her pursuit of her goals and
aspirations for herself and her children. ?Rising Star? (ISBN
1-4134-6235-9, Xlibris) breaks down every aspect of the modeling
business and offers readers an overview of the industry, as well
as a realistic method to assess the characteristics needed to
succeed. All four of her children are working models appearing
in national print ads. Her son Dave Dylan is featured in a
dynamic portrait on the cover of the book. At just 18, Dylan has
a promising career in front of him and is an example of the
rising stars Shelton writes about. Dylan has been in many
national advertising campaigns, and he is also gaining attention
as an actor and rapper. More information about Shelton and her
book ?Rising Star? can be found at
About the author:
David M. Bresnahan is an independent journalist with 30 years of
experience. He has a web site at
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